Grilled Lemon Chicken Thighs are juicy, flavorful, and easy to make. The zesty, citrus marinade uses only 3 ingredients (plus a few simple spices) and takes only minutes to mix up. The results are moist chicken thighs with perfect grill marks.
Grilled Boneless Chicken Thighs are so versatile and will be a family favorite for the summer! Leftovers keep well so consider making a double batch to have for meal prep throughout the week.
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Ingredients
It only takes a few simple ingredients to the flavorful marinade for grilled lemon chicken thighs. Here's what you need:
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs - you could also use chicken breasts but I love how moist chicken thighs are.
- Fresh Lemons - to use both the zest and juice
- Minced Garlic - fresh is always best, but you can use the pre-minced kind from a jar too.
- Olive Oil
- Spices - Salt and Pepper, Dried Oregano, Dried Thyme
Serving Ideas:
The serving ideas for grilled chicken thighs are endless! Here are a few of my favorites:
- Rice or Pasta
- On top of a Salad - Grilled chicken is great on or alongside a big salad!
- Grilled Veggies and Potatoes - If the grill is already fired up, you might as well grill some veggies and/or potatoes for a perfect pairing. Like this recipe for Grilled Asparagus in Foil or Grilled Potato Wedges.
- Lemon Tahini Dressing - Perfect to emphasize the lemon flavor!
Step by step instructions
Even if you're not a grilling expert, you can totally make grilled chicken thighs! See the instructions below:
- Marinate Chicken Thighs - In a medium/large bowl, mix together the olive oil, spices, lemon zest and juice, and garlic. Add the whole chicken thighs to the bowl and toss to combine. Allow to marinate for at least 20 minutes (perfect amount of time to preheat the grill) or up to one hour.
- Preheat Grill - Preheat the grill to medium-high heat (450-500 degrees F) for direct grilling (ie. the chicken will go directly over the flame).
- Grill - Grease your grill grates, if desired, with vegetable oil on a paper towel using grilling tongs. Then add the marinated chicken thighs to the grill. Close the grill and grill each side for 4-5 minutes (8-10 minutes total) until fully cooked (internal temperature reads 165 degrees F). Chicken thighs are ready to flip when they easily release from the grill. The excess marinade should be discarded.
- Serve - Removed cooked chicken from the grill and allow to rest for just a few minutes before serving. I love to give a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a sprinkle of extra chopped parsley.
Frequently Asked Questions
It takes about 8-10 minutes to grill boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Or about 4-5 minutes per side.
The key to grilling chicken thighs without burning them is not having your grill too hot. It's best to cook them on medium Heat (or about 450-500F). This is hot enough to get the pretty grill marks, but not too hot that it burns the chicken before cooking it all the way through.
I like to grease my grill grates right before adding the chicken. I add some canola oil or vegetable oil to a paper towel and use the grilling tongs to carefully grease the grates. But the biggest key to not having food stick when grilling is to not flip the chicken too soon. Once the chicken is cooked on the outside with nice grill marks it will easily release from the grill.
The best way to tell if grilled chicken is cooked is to check the internal temperature with a thermometer. Dark meat chicken should be cooked to 165 degrees F. If you don't have a thermometer, you can also cut the chicken to make sure there is no pink and the juices run clear but checking the temperature is the safest option.
Leftovers and Storage
Grilled chicken is a great option for meal prep! Leftover chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge. It will keep fresh for up to 5 days.
Recipe Notes and Tips
- Ready to Flip - Chicken thighs are ready to flip when they easily release from the grill. If they're still really stuck on, then give them a little more time.
- Discard Marinade - It's important to discard any excess marinade as it has been contaminated from the raw chicken.
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PrintRecipe
Grilled Lemon Chicken Thighs
Grilled Lemon Chicken Thighs are juicy, flavorful, and easy to make. The zesty, citrus marinade uses only 3 ingredients (plus a few simple spices) and takes only minutes to mix up. The results are moist chicken thighs with perfect grill marks.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 4-6 servings
- Category: Main, Grilling
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1.5-2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 2 lemons, zested and juiced
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Marinate Chicken Thighs - In a medium/large bowl, mix together the olive oil, spices, lemon zest and juice, and garlic. Add the whole chicken thighs to the bowl and toss to combine. Allow to marinate for at least 20 minutes (perfect amount of time to preheat the grill) or up to one hour. If marinating for more than 20 minutes, place the chicken back in the fridge.
- Preheat Grill - Preheat the grill to medium-high heat (450-500 degrees F) for direct grilling (ie. the chicken will go directly over the flame).
- Grill - Grease your grill grates, if desired, with vegetable oil on a paper towel using grilling tongs. Then add the marinated chicken thighs to the grill. Discard excess marinade. Close the grill and grill each side for 4-5 minutes (8-10 minutes total) until fully cooked (internal temperature reads 170 degrees F). Chicken thighs are ready to flip when they easily release from the grill. The excess marinade should be discarded.
- Serve - Removed cooked chicken from the grill and allow to rest for just a few minutes before serving. I love to give a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a sprinkle of extra chopped parsley.
Notes
Leftover chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ¼ of recipe
- Calories: 303
- Sugar: 0.6 g
- Sodium: 316.9 mg
- Fat: 17.6 g
- Carbohydrates: 2.1 g
- Fiber: 0.2 g
- Protein: 33.6 g
- Cholesterol: 159.8 mg
Keywords: Grilled Lemon Chicken Thighs, Grilled Chicken Thighs, Grilled Citrus Chicken Thighs, Chicken Thigh Marinade
Katie says
I loved the fresh lemon flavor.
★★★★★